Michael Jackson’s love of animals takes center stage in the new biopic Michael.
The film features several of Jackson’s pets, including a llama, a giraffe, a python, and, most famously, Bubbles, a chimpanzee that Jackson owned while still living at his parents’ home in Encino, California.
The film introduces Bubbles, who is delivered to Michael (Jaafar Jackson) for the first time while his family looks on in horror. His mother, Katherine (Nia Long), questions her son’s choices and asks if he understands that chimpanzees are “wild animals” that should not live in their suburban San Fernando Valley home.
Instead of using real chimpanzees, director Antoine Fuqua used CGI to portray Bubbles, as well as llamas, giraffes, and pythons.
“We have continued to have a constructive dialogue with PETA regarding the depiction of Bubbles the Chimpanzee as a pet,” Lionsgate said in an exclusive statement released to Variety via PETA. “This depiction is based on historical fact only and is not an endorsement of keeping chimpanzees as pets. Bubbles is depicted in the film using CGI technology, and the real Bubbles has lived a peaceful life in the Great Ape Center’s sanctuary for over 20 years.”
Jackson rescued Bubbles from a Texas research facility in the 1980s. The King of Pop took Bubbles on tour, and the chimpanzee was his plus one at his lawyer John Branca’s wedding. During a visit to Japanese government officials in 1987, he and Bubbles had tea together.
Jackson then moved Bubbles to Neverland Ranch, where she slept in a crib in Jackson’s bedroom. When Bubbles grew older and became more aggressive, he was sent to an animal trainer for several years. Bubbles, now 43, has lived at the Great Ape Center, a sanctuary in Wauchula, Florida, since 2005.
“We now know so much more about what chimpanzees and monkeys need to thrive, including the freedom and companionship they need to thrive, and their well-being makes film sets and human homes unacceptable,” said Lauren Thomason, director of film and television animals at PETA. “PETA applauds Lionsgate’s decision not to use real animals and urges viewers to never buy primates from breeders or keep them as pets.”
Patty Ragan, founding director of Great Apes, said Jackson had been planning to visit Bubbles at the time of Bubbles’ death in 2009. Jackson’s estate continues to financially support Bubbles’ care, she said. “He’s a really sweet, sweet guy,” Ragan told me this morning. “People still think of Michael as the cute pink-faced baby he carried around, but now he’s a big boy weighing about 170 pounds. He lives in a group of five people, and we’re introducing some young people to that group right now. When he got here, Bubbles helped raise two babies.”
Bubble in October 2025.
One of his closest companions is Oopsie, a 52-year-old chimpanzee who was a stand-in on the late 1970s action sitcom “BJ and the Bear.”
At 43 years old, Bubbles is considered an elderly primate. He spends a lot of time napping. “He has good chemistry with the lads, but he’s moving a little bit slower,” Ragan said. “It may take a while to climb the ladder, but they eat well.”
Ragan said her favorite foods are mainly fruits, and “all kinds of vegetables and leafy greens.” I also love playing with backpacks that have Velcro on them. “He likes to carry his treasures in it,” Ragan said.
According to a recent article in the New York Times, a biopic of Bubbles is being planned in Hollywood, based on a screenplay by Isaac Adamson. A sequel to “Michael” has not been announced, but producers have said the movie could focus more on Jackson’s love of animals.
just for variety
